Method of making sheet metal containers



Sept. 28, 1943- 1. w. ENGLAND ETAL 2,3302%? METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f j 56 d. Z fizz g5, Z,

flame g n/A ame-9'4;

p 8, 1943. I. w. ENGLAND ET AL 2,330,207

METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 22, 1941 2 SheetsSheet 2 vnwmw 6km,

masks Patented Sept. 28, 1943 METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL CONTAINERS Isaac W. England and John Haycock, New York, N. Y., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 22, 1941, Serial .No. 375,520 2 Claims. (01. 113-120 The invention relates to new and useful improvements in the method of making a sheet the edges thereof abutted and mechanically interlocked as well as bonded by metal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of forming a seam or the parts of a sheet metal container whereby the connected .edgeportions are abutted and mechanically interlocked by projections fitting within recesses, with the edges of the projections forced into intimate contact with the edges of the recesses.

' I Y A .still further object of the invention is to provide-a method of producing a side seam for sheet metal can bodies wherein the edge portions are abutted and mechanically interlocked by projections fitting within recesses, which projections are slightly larger than the recesses and are forced into the recesses to bring the edges into intimate contact so as to prevent distortion the parts when heated for bonding and for facilitating the uniting of the parts by metal bonding.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter mor fully disclosed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a view of a blank which has been notched and shaped at the edge portions for the forming of the can body;

Fig. 2 is a side View 01' a completed can body;

Fig. 3 is a detail on'an enlarged scale showing the edge portions shaped for interlocking before they are assembled;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the parts assembled ready for bumping;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the seam bumped and the edges or the projections forced into intimate contact with the edges or the recesses;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the side seam of the completed body before rianging;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

. character.

Fig. 9 is a detail similar to Figure 3, showing a slightly modified form of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view longitudinally of the seam showing the parts assembled ready for bumping, and

Fig. 11 is a view'similar to Figure 10', showing the parts bumped and ready for, bonding.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings as applied to the side seam of a can body. The completed can body is indicated at l in Figure 2, and the side seam joining the edges'thereof is indicated at 2. 'The can body is made from a blank of sheet metal indicated at 3 in Figure 1 of the drawings. The edge portion 4 of the blank is provided with a series of spaced projecting portions 5, 5. Between the projecting portions are spaces or recesses 6, 6. At the other edge 1 of the blank are spaced projecting portions 8, 8 between which are recesses 9, 9.

The projecting portions 5, 5 are wider at their outer ends than the neck portion-5a which supports the projection. As shown in the drawings, the sides and end of each projection are straight walls meeting at angles. It is obvious that these projecting portions may be otherwise shaped, but it is essential that the outer free end portion of each projection shall be wider in a direction longitudinally of the seam than the neck portion of the projection which supports the same.

The same is true of each projection. It iswider at its outer end than the neck portion la which supports the same. The projections 5 are shaped so that when the seam is completed, each projection will completely fill and make abutted contact withthe edges of the opposed recess 9. The projection 8 is shaped and disposed so that it will completely flll and make edge contact with the edges of the opposed recess 6 between the projections 5, 5. The projecting portions 5, 5 are initially curved along a line :z:x centrally therethrough. This draws the 'side edge 5b nearer to the side edge 50 and greatly facilitates the placing of the projections 5 in their corresponding recesses 9. After the edges have been brought together and the projections interlocked,

as shown in Figures 4 and 5, then the side seam is subjected to a bumping operation of the usual This bumping operation consists in the placing of the interlocked edge portions on a bumping anvil or horn, and the striking of the same with a-bumping iron which is shaped to conform to the curvature of the body so that when the side seam is bumped, these interlocked.

projections will lie in the curved plane of the cylindrical body.

7 it is no'ted from Figure that the edge portions of the projections are inclined to the plane of the edge portion instead of at right angles thereto. This faciltates the bringing of the edge portion into abutted relation and extends slightly the length of the abutted engagement for a given thickness of metal.

The 'interlockedjportions just' described do not extend the complete length of the side seam, but at each end of the side seam the blanks are so shaped as to overlap, as clearly shown in Figures 3 to 6.

at the upper end of the seam is indicated at H! Y When the and the inner lapping portion at H.

seam is bumped, theselapping p'ortionsYare" In Figure 3, the outerlapping portion-1 tions i1, said portion 15 will rest on these ledges orlugs l'lb, llb, (see Figure This will support and maintain the alignment of the projeccurved and brought into close contact with each other. The bumping of the seam causes the projecting portions which 7 are initially curved to straighten out and make very tight intimate con-' tact with the edges of the recesses in whichthey are disposed. This will firmly hold the edges of bondingof thefsideseam; When solder 'is'applied, the e ge portions willbefunited'with the v solder bond; and the lapping portions will falso be solder-bonded so that theseamisa complete the blank interlocked preparatory to the solder to that described above.

'by forming the projections with the supporting tions preparatory to bumping. After the side seam is bumped, then the edges of the projection will bebrou'ght into intimate contact with the shoulders l 'iaon the projections IT.

The method of making the side seam shown inthe modified form of construction is similar The edges are prepared ledges, and the curving of the projectionswhich are to'fit into the recesses and rest on the ledges.

'herm etic seam fr'ornone'endto the other thereof.

is an edge abutted contact which is continuous iandunb'roken It is noted that throughout the interlock; there [wise metal bended for making a tightstrong rrtheeehhedy'ismede of tin plate, th raw I ledgesoi the 'metalwhichare exposed during the shaping of .th' edge portions for uniting'wi'll be completelyflcon'cealed Within ,the side seam. It

isfurther noted that in the finished side seam,

- :the mechanically interlocked parts: all lie in the .curved plane ofth e body of the container, and

Then the edge portions'of' the blank are brought together over a cylindrical. bumpinghorn, and the seam parts locked together onthe .anvi of 'the bumping horn. The bumping iron contacts withthese projections' throughout the length of ,r 0 Whil ethe seam is described as solder-bonded, itl'sunder'stood that" it might be welded or otherthe side seam-and forces the curved projections into the curved path of. the can body andv the edges-thereof into contact with the shoulders surrounding the recess receiving the projection.

After the side seam is'bumped. then it is solderi therefore, the container maybe very readilyjlacin the region. of the side seam' Afterthe can bodyfis'made upih the annerdescribed. above: thebody is flanged intheusuaI iiway and v a'bottorn end l2 fis. joined thereto by. a I ,doubleseam' (3, "After fillinga top'end M may I I be seamedto. the, body. in' theusual way. While the seam shew es applied to' whatis usually e ferred to as a fipackerfs container where the end is seamed tothebodyafter-th'e container is Q filled, it willbe understood thatthis side seam maybe applied to any type of container made Iv .s of sheet metal, I i

The invention .not

produced. butjin the method (if making t side seam,. which includes thefsteps of shaping tho...-

'; edge portions? to form the lintferlocking' pr'ojece 1,; tions curving certain ofthe' projections t'o' facilitate the assembling of the sameiand then the bumping vof ltheinterlocked projections and the seam;

I In Figures 9ft o l l'jjthjere is shown 'a sli htly fir'nodified form ofth'e invention; The bC d blank' ,issp rovidfed with projecting portions 15] I5 between whichar e spaces or recesses l6, l6] These" projecting portions are initially curved in the 7V manner described. connection with #the projections 5 Theotheredge portion of the blank is provided with projecting portions l "the edges only resides 1h thearticle uiered or coated with wa x or any other desired non-metalliccoating, both inside or outside, and very u iform thickness'of, .coating obtained, not I .onlyIthr'oughoutthe regionof the bodyQbut also I bonded or otherwise metal bonded, and this produces an hermetically closed'side sea-m wherein the edge portions are mechanicallylocked, and wherein the adjacent'edges of the interlocked parts form one continuous metal-bonded line. in carrying "out the method producing the seam described; the blanks are "first fed to a means for cleaningthe scale and-any collecting films from the edge portions which are to be joined; thenthey areiou't and the edges shaped for joining, after which the blank is shaped into the forrn of a can body when aside seam is being madeand the edge portions interlocked and bumped. The next step consists in either solderbondingthe mechanically'joinecl edges or welding the edge portions for metal-bonding thesame and finishing the seam. .In solderingit is es- 'sential that the edges after they are cut and shaped shall be joined before the metal oxidizes.

' a When the/joining follows immediately after the 1 cutting-"clean surfaces are presented for joining,

and this makes a very effective solder bond. The same is true, to a large extent,.in. connection with weldingythe'cle'an surfaces will be joined by welding much more efiiciently. When a support- .f gpplying of la meter bond for 'completing theing ledge is provided as shown in Figure 10, the

.edge portions to be joined are not only brought into'perfecte alignment, but the surface to be joined by metal bonding is extended so as to make a very efiicient joint, I

M Itis obvious'that many change may be made. in the shaping o i, the parts without departing ,fiom thespirit er the invention asset iorth in the appended claims. It is also obvious'that the seamwhich is described and illustrated as a side seam for container-bodies may be used in con- .nectionwiththc'joining of metal parts incontainer's wherever such "a sea'rn'is applicable.

Having thus described the inventionfiwhat We "claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.is: V I

1. The method of' making a. side seam for a sheet metal can body, comprising shaping the body blank so as to provide spaced projecting portions along one edge of the blank, which projecting portions are wider at the free ends thereof than at the portion joining the body blank,

and opposed recesses along the other edge of the blank, which recesses are shaped to conform to the projecting portions, curving the projecting portions transversely of the center line thereof so as to reduce the over-all area. of the projections to facilitate the insertion of the same in the respective recesses on the other edge portion of the blank, placing the curved portions in the said recesses, bumping the side seam so as to straighten out the curvature of the projecting portions and bring the edges thereof into intimate contact with the edges of the recesses, and metal-bonding the side seam for hermetically uniting the contacting edges.

2. The method of making a side seam for a sheet metal can body comprising shaping the body so as to provide spaced projecting portions along one edge of the blank and opposed re cesses along the other edge of the blank, said recesses conforming in shape to the projections, offsetting the metal at the side edges of each recess to form projecting lugs; curving the projections on the edge of the body blank transversely of the center line thereof so as to reduce the over-all area of the projections to facilitate the insertion of the same in the respective recesses on the other edge portion, placing the projections in the recesses on the supporting lugs therefor bumping the side seam to straighten out the curvature of the projecting portions for bringing the adjacent parts of the projections and recesses into intimate contact and metalbonding the side seam for hermetically uniting said contacting edge portions.

ISAAC W. ENGLAND. JOHN HAYCOCK. 

